He is the Light

Take a few minutes to catch up, tell stories, and laugh together. Trust and friendship take time to build. If you’re launching a new DNA, one person should tell their story — what do we need to know about you? Next week, have another person in your DNA share their story.

Reflection
The Scripture from this week’s sermon tells us that “God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him.” Reflect on what this means and implies about God’s character. Do your thoughts lead you to see God as righteous, pure, just, absolute, and whole? Why or why not? Share with your group if there are past experiences that come to mind where God’s light was shown to you, or other Scriptures related to God being light.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is “darkness” in the context of scripture? On our own, are we immune to the “darkness”? The Bible Project can help provide a helpful perspective in their 5 minute word study on "sin" here.
2. Pastor Sean preached that darkness is where the “hidden things” that lead us to sin have freedom to thrive, and that “sin is best fermented in the dark”. 1 John 1:6 refers to people walking in darkness. How much agency do you think someone has whether they walk in darkness or in the light? If we chose to “walk in darkness”, why would we make that choice and what does this suggest about our human will in relation to God and each other?
   • Consider John 3:19-20
   • Consider Romans 6:16-23 – Can we be obedient to God if we are both in the light and darkness?
3. Luke 8:17 (CSB) says that “...nothing is concealed that won’t be revealed, and nothing hidden that won’t be made known and brought to light.” If nothing can remain hidden before God, the fact that we humans still attempt to hide our ways and are tempted to walk in darkness before God and others is a clear marker of our imperfect nature and sin pushing our will in the opposite direction of God’s. This week’s passage from 1 John is instructing us to be real with God so that we can experience his light and truth. What is the encouragement in verse 7 and 9 that we are promised?
4. What are we promised in verses 7 and 9 if we confess and are real with God? One promise involves us being able to be in fulfilling community and another involves Jesus giving us the blessing of his imputed righteousness. The reward of these two promises ought to draw us into God’s light. Are you willing to trust him to bring you into his light and direct you in his standard of goodness rather than your own? Why or why not?

Read and pray these Scriptures aloud as you close:

• In Isaiah 9:2 it says: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." We thank you, God, for your light that has been revealed to us while we were in the dark.
• In Psalm 56:13 it says: “you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life." Thank you that your light will keep our feet from stumbling.
• Psalm 119:105 says: “Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path." Thank you that your light illuminates the way that we should go.
• In Psalm 89:15 it says: “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord." Thank you that your light will bring about blessing in our lives.
• In James 1:17 it says: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Thank you that your light will give us everything we need because you are our constant source.
• In John 8:12 you, Jesus, say: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Thank you that YOU are the light of the world, and that we can walk in the light that leads us to life.
• In John 12:36 you say:  “Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light." Thank you that your light allows us to be your sons and your daughters.
• In 1 John 1:7 it says: “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." Thank you that your light will deepen our bond as brothers and sisters.
• In John 1:5 it says: “That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.” Thank you that your light will never let us be overtaken by darkness, no matter how dark it may appear.